ACCESSING WAGERING GAME SERVICES BY AIMING HANDHELD DEVICE AT EXTERNAL DEVICE

• US 20100210352A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ansari, Marwan, Gagner, Mark B., Thomas, Alfred, Sylla, Craig J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable

Abstract

A portable wagering game machine includes a signal receiver and motion sensors. The signal receiver receives signals from a signal emission device that are used to determine the position and orientation of the portable wagering game machine relative to a gaming establishment devices and locations. The position and orientation information may be used to determine a gaming establishment device or location aimed at by the portable wagering game machine. The portable wagering game machine may then access or interact with a service associated with the device or location, or interact with the device itself.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a signal emission device operable to emit a plurality of signals;

one or more gaming establishment devices, the one or more gaming establishment devices having an association with a gaming establishment service; and

a portable wagering game machine operable to;

present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered,

receive the plurality of signals,

receive data from a motion sensor,

utilize the plurality of signals and the data from the motion sensor to determine a selected gaming establishment device of the one or more gaming establishment devices, and

accessing the gaming establishment service associated with the selected gaming establishment device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal emission device emits infrared signals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscopic sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a server operable to maintain map data, wherein the portable wagering game device communicates position and orientation data to the server and wherein the service utilizes the position and orientation data to determine the selected gaming establishment device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming establishment device includes a display and the gaming establishment service includes a progressive service, and wherein the portable wagering game machine accesses the progressive service.

6. A method comprising:

initializing a wagering game framework operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered;

receiving a plurality of signals from a signal emission device;

receiving data from a motion sensor;

utilizing the plurality of signals and the data from the motion sensor to determine a selected gaming establishment device; and

accessing a gaming establishment service associated with the selected gaming establishment device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising utilizing the plurality of signals and the data from the motion sensor to determine a position and orientation.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting the position and orientation to a server;

receiving from the server an identification of the gaming establishment service.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected gaming establishment device comprises a display and the gaming establishment service comprises a wagering game;

and further comprising;

presenting an interface to place a wager on the wagering game;

updating the display to indicate the wager.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying an avatar representing a user of the portable wagering game machine.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wagering game comprises a progressive wagering game.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the gaming establishment service comprises a restaurant, theater, arena or show and further comprising updating a display on the portable wagering game machine with information related to the restaurant, theater, arena or show.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing an interface to make a reservation or purchase tickets for the restaurant, theater, arena or show.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected gaming establishment device comprises a wagering game machine;

and further comprising displaying information associated with the wagering game machine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information includes game history, jackpot wins or paytables.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected gaming establishment device comprises a wagering game machine and further comprising placing a side wager on the portable wagering game machine on the outcome of the wagering game presented on the wagering game machine.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising encoding the signals such that the signals identify the signal emission device.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the gaming establishment service comprises an information service providing information related to directions to a location, news, sports, weather or traffic.

19. A method comprising:

selecting a plurality of wagering game machines by determining the position and orientation of a portable wagering game machine relative to the plurality of wagering game machines;

receiving on the portable wagering game machine a wager on an event associated with the selected plurality of wagering game machines; and

determining an outcome for the wager based on whether the event occurs or not.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the event comprises an occurrence of a bonus event on at least one of the selected plurality of wagering game machines.

21. A wagering game system comprising:

a signal emission device;

a wagering game machine operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered, the wagering game machine including at least one display and a first wireless network interface; and

a remote device associated with the wagering game machine, the remote device include at least one motion sensor device, at least one signal receiver and a second wireless network interface;

wherein the remote device is operable to;

determine a position and orientation using data from the at least one motion sensor device and the at least one signal receiver, and

transmit the position and orientation to the wagering game machine; and

wherein the wagering game machine is operable to receive the position and orientation data and use the position and orientation data in the presentation of the wagering game.

22. The wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the motion sensor device includes one or more of an accelerometer or a gyroscopic sensor.

23. The wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the signal emission device is incorporated in the wagering game machine.

24. The wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the signal emission device is an infrared signal emission device.

25. The wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the first wireless network interface and the second wireless network interface comprises a Bluetooth interface.